Where do stem cells come from in a transplant?
The blood-forming stem cells that are used in transplants can come from the bone marrow, bloodstream, or umbilical cord. Transplants can be: autologous, which means the stem cells come from you, the patient allogeneic, which means the stem cells come from someone else. The donor may be a blood relative but can also be someone who is not related.
What are stem cell-based therapies?
Stem cell-based therapies are defined as any treatment for a disease or a medical condition that fundamentally involves the use of any type of viable human stem cells including embryonic stem cells (ESCs), iPSCs and adult stem cells for autologous and allogeneic therapies (8).
What are stem cells used for Today?
Today, doctors routinely use stem cells that come from bone marrow or blood in transplant procedures to treat patients with cancer and disorders of the blood and immune system. Electron micrograph of stem cells, color-enhanced for visual clarity.
Where do stem cells live in the body?
Stem cells mostly live in the bone marrow (the spongy center of certain bones). This is where they divide to make new blood cells. Once blood cells mature, they leave the bone marrow and enter the bloodstream. A small number of the immature stem cells also get into the bloodstream. These are called peripheral blood stem cells.
Why Would Someone With Cancer Need A Stem Cell Transplant?
Stem cell transplants are used to replace bone marrow that has been destroyed by cancer or destroyed by the chemo and/or radiation used to treat th...
What Makes Stem Cells So Important?
Stem cells make the 3 main types of blood cells: red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.We need all of these types of blood cells to kee...
Deciding to Have A Stem Cell Transplant
Although a stem cell transplant can help some patients, even giving some people a chance for a cure, the decision to have a transplant isn’t easy....
Stem Cell Harvesting for Pain and Cosmetic Treatments
At Twin Cities Pain and Regenerative Medicine we perform countless stem cell treatments each year and one of the most frequent questions we get from our patients is where we get the stem cells for the procedure. The answer is simple: from the patient's very own bone marrow or adipose (fat) tissue, depending on the procedure.
About Twin Cities Pain and Regenerative Medicine
Twin Cities Pain and Regenerative Medicine is a leader Minneapolis and the Upper Midwest in stem cell treatment for pain. Our Medical Director Dr. Constantin Starchook has been practicing anesthesiology in the Twin Cities for over 20 years and is consistently ranked as one of the T op Doctors in Minnesota by his peers.
What is an induced pluripotent stem cell?
Induced pluripotent stem cells, or iPSCs, are somatic stem cells that have been genetically reprogrammed to be more like embryonic stem cells. iPSCs usually start out as skin or blood cells which then undergo genetic programming. 5
What are the stem cells in bone marrow?
Stem Cells in Bone Marrow Transplants. The cells of the bone marrow produce all of your healthy blood cells, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Hematopoietic stem cells are those found in bone marrow that serves as the "parent" for all of these different types of cells. Hematopoietic stem cells are transplanted ...
What type of stem cell is used for leukemia?
Currently, blood stem cells are the only type regularly used for treatment. In cases of leukemia or lymphoma, this type of cell is used in a procedure we commonly refer to as a bone marrow transplant. 1 For this purpose, only adult stems cells are used.
Why are embryonic stem cells controversial?
Embryonic stem cells are controversial since they are derived from human embryos that have either been destroyed or harvested for science. Embryonic stem cells were first grown in a laboratory in 1998 for reproductive purposes. Today, they are used primarily for research into treatments or cures for cancers, blindness, juvenile diabetes, ...
How many cell types can embryonic stem cells develop into?
In other words, they can develop into each of the more than 200 cell types if specified to do so. 4 .
Why do people get hematopoietic stem cells?
Hematopoietic stem cells are transplanted into a person with cancer to help replenish bone marrow. The procedure is often used when high dose chemotherapy effectively destroys the existing stem cells in a person’s bone marrow.
When were iPSCs first developed?
iPSCs were first developed in 2006 and pose one major advantage over somatic and embryonic stem cells: they can be made in a patient-matched manner. What this means is that a lab can tailor-make a pluripotent stem cell line individualized from a person’s own cells or tissues.
What are stem cells?
All of the blood cells in your body - white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets - start out as young (immature) cells called hematopoietic stem cells. Hematopoietic means blood-forming. These are very young cells that are not fully developed. Even though they start out the same, these stem cells can mature into any type of blood cell, depending on what the body needs when each stem cell is developing.
Why are stem cells important?
Why stem cells are so important. Stem cells make red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. We need all of these types of blood cells to keep us alive. For these blood cells to do their jobs, you need to have enough of each of them in your blood.
Why do we need stem cell transplants?
The goal of the transplant is to wipe out the cancer cells and the damaged or non-healthy cells that aren't working right, and give the patient new, healthy stem cells to “start over."
What are the cells that get into the bloodstream called?
A small number of the immature stem cells also get into the bloodstream. These are called peripheral blood stem cells. Why stem cells are so important. Stem cells make red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.
How is bone marrow harvested?
The bone marrow is harvested (removed) while the donor is under general anesthesia (drugs are used to put the patient into a deep sleep so they don’t feel pain). A large needle is put through the skin on the lower back and into the back of the hip bone. The thick liquid marrow is pulled out through the needle. This is repeated until enough marrow has been taken out. (For more on this, see What’s It Like to Donate Stem Cells?)
How long does it take for stem cells to get into the blood?
The new cells are usually found in the patient’s blood in about 4 weeks.
How are stem cells taken from blood?
For a peripheral blood stem cell transplant, the stem cells are taken from blood. A special thin flexible tube (called a catheter) is put into a large vein in the donor and attached to tubing that carries the blood to a special machine. The machine separates the stem cells from the rest of the blood, which is returned to the donor during the same procedure. This takes several hours, and may need to be repeated for a few days to get enough stem cells. The stem cells are filtered, stored in bags, and frozen until the patient is ready for them. (For more on this, see What’s It Like to Donate Stem Cells?)
Where Do Stem Cells Come From?
This is the source that caused so much controversy when stem cells first appeared on the political scene.
Why are stem cells important?
In medicine, stem cells can be used to repair and replace tissue that has been damaged by any number of illnesses , as well as trauma and simple aging. Critical differences, essential to patients, lie in where stem cells are found.
What is Infusio medical?
And unlike other medical practices that sell stem cell treatments, Infusio offers a comprehensive, long-term integrative program that supports the whole patient, in order to optimize cell terrain and allow those remarkable stem cells to do the work they were created for.
What is the Infusio approach?
The Infusio Approach. Infusio’s treatment protocol for Lyme disease and other degenerative conditions involves Stromal Vascular Fraction – an extract from the patient’s own fat. It contains those versatile, user-friendly adipose-derived stem cells, along with an array of other beneficial cells – including blood stem cells –and supportive growth ...
What is induced pluripotent stem cell?
On a related note, patients may run across mention of induced pluripotent stem cells – iPSCS – which are similar to embryonic stem cells and derived from the patient’s own skin. However, the sourcing process still requires use of a blastocyst, and involves the same risks and ethical quandaries.
Where are hematopoietic stem cells found?
Also known by a tongue twister name, hematopoietic stem cells. Found in the patient’s own blood and bone marrow, these stem cells can differentiate into the building blocks of blood, and may be an important consideration in treating immune, blood and circulatory disorders, without the compatibility problems associated with cord blood.
Is stem cell technology magical?
It turns out that stem cells are pretty magical, in their own way. Less dramatic than replicators and disease-destroying handheld laser scanners perhaps, but they contain vast potential for revolutionizing how we address a huge range of health issues, today and in the future.
What is the difference between autologous and allogeneic stem cells?
Transplants can be: Autologous, which means the stem cells come from you, the patient. Allogeneic, which means the stem cells come from someone else. The donor may be a blood relative but can also be someone who is not related. Syngeneic, which means the stem cells come from your identical twin, if you have one.
What is stem cell transplant?
Stem cell transplants help restore blood-forming stem cells in people who have had theirs destroyed by certain cancer treatments. Stem cell transplants are procedures that restore blood-forming stem cells in people who have had theirs destroyed by the very high doses of chemotherapy or radiation therapy that are used to treat certain cancers.
Why does graft versus tumor occur?
Graft-versus-tumor occurs when white blood cells from your donor (the graft) attack any cancer cells that remain in your body (the tumor) after high-dose treatments. This effect improves the success of the treatments.
What happens if you have an allogeneic transplant?
If you have an allogeneic transplant, you might develop a serious problem called graft-versus-host disease. Graft-versus-host disease can occur when white blood cells from your donor (the graft) recognize cells in your body (the host) as foreign and attack them. This problem can cause damage to your skin, liver, intestines, and many other organs. It can occur a few weeks after the transplant or much later. Graft-versus-host disease can be treated with steroids or other drugs that suppress your immune system.
Why are stem cells important?
Blood-forming stem cells are important because they grow into different types of blood cells. The main types of blood cells are: White blood cells, which are part of your immune system and help your body fight infection. Red blood cells, which carry oxygen throughout your body. Platelets, which help the blood clot.
Where do you go to get an allogeneic stem cell transplant?
When you need an allogeneic stem cell transplant, you will need to go to a hospital that has a specialized transplant center. The National Marrow Donor Program® maintains a list of transplant centers in the United States. that can help you find a transplant center.
What type of cancer is stem cell transplant?
Who Receives Stem Cell Transplants. Stem cell transplants are most often used to help people with leukemia and lymphoma. They may also be used for neuroblastoma and multiple myeloma. Stem cell transplants for other types of cancer are being studied in clinical trials, which are research studies involving people.
What is the FDA's response to stem cell products?
When stem cell products are used in unapproved ways— or when they are processed in ways that are more than minimally manipulated, which relates to the nature and degree of processing—the FDA may take (and has already taken) a variety of administrative and judicial actions, including criminal enforcement, depending on the violations involved.
What are the safety concerns of unproven treatments?
Other potential safety concerns for unproven treatments include: Administration site reactions, The ability of cells to move from placement sites and change into inappropriate cell types or multiply, Failure of cells to work as expected, and.
What is the FDA approved product?
About FDA-approved Products Derived from Stem Cells. The only stem cell-based products that are FDA-approved for use in the United States consist of blood-forming stem cells (hematopoietic progenitor cells) derived from cord blood. These products are approved for limited use in patients with disorders that affect the body system ...
What are stem cells?
Sometimes called the body’s “master cells,” stem cells are the cells that develop into blood, brain, bones, and all of the body’s organs. They have the potential to repair, restore, replace, and regenerate cells, and could possibly be used to treat many medical conditions and diseases. But the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is concerned ...
Where do stem cells come from?
The FDA has the authority to regulate stem cell products in the United States. Today, doctors routinely use stem cells that come from bone marrow or blood in transplant procedures to treat patients with cancer and disorders of the blood and immune system. Electron micrograph of stem cells, color-enhanced for visual clarity.
Is it safe to use unproven stem cells?
Safety Concerns for Unproven Stem Cell Treatments. All medical treatments have benefits and risks. But unproven stem cell therapies can be particularly unsafe. For instance, attendees at a 2016 FDA public workshop discussed several cases of severe adverse events.
Is bone marrow FDA approved?
These products are approved for limited use in patients with disorders that affect the body system that is involved in the production of blood (called the “hematopoietic” system). These FDA-approved stem cell products are listed on the FDA website. Bone marrow also is used for these treatments but is generally not regulated by the FDA for this use.
What is stem cell therapy?
Stem cell-based therapies are defined as any treatment for a disease or a medical condition that fundamentally involves the use of any type of viable human stem cells including embryonic stem cells (ESCs), iPSCs and adult stem cells for autologous and allogeneic therapies (8). Stem cells offer the perfect solution when there is a need for tissue and organ transplantation through their ability to differentiate into the specific cell types that are required for repair of diseased tissues.
How many patients were included in the Aimetti study?
Aimetti et al.performed a study which included eleven patients suffering from chronic periodontitis and have one deep intra bony defect in addition to the presence of one vital tooth that needs extraction (52). Pulp tissue was passed through 50-µm filters in presence of collagen sponge scaffold and was followed by transplantation in the bony defects caused by periodontal disease. Both clinical and radiographic evaluations confirmed the efficacy of this therapeutic intervention. Periodontal examination, attachment level, and probe depth showed improved results in addition to significant stability of the gingival margin. Moreover, radiographic analysis demonstrated bone regeneration.
What are the ethical issues faced by stem cell therapy?
Stem cell-based therapies face many obstacles that need to be urgently addressed. The most persistent concern is the ethical conflict regarding the use of ESCs. As previously mentioned, ESCs are far superior regarding their potency; however, their derivation requires destruction human embryos. True, the discovery of iPSCs overcame this concern; nevertheless, iPSCs themselves currently face another ethical controversy of their own which addresses their unlimited capacity of differentiation with concerns that these cells could one day be applied in human cloning. The use of iPSCs in therapy is still considered a high-risk treatment modality, since transplantation of these cells could induce tumor formation. Such challenge is currently addressed through developing optimized protocols to ensure their safety in addition to developing global clinical-grade iPSCs cell lines before these cells are available for clinical use (61). As for MSCs, these cells have been universally considered safe, however continuous monitoring and prolonged follow-up should be the focus of future research to avoid the possibility of tumor formation after treatments (62). Finally, it could be postulated that one of the most challenging ethical issues faced in the field of stem cell-based therapies at the moment, is the increasing number of clinics offering unproven stem cell-based treatments. Researchers are thus morally obligated to ensure that ethical considerations are not undermined in pursuit of progress in clinical translation.
What is PD in ESC cells?
PD is characterized by a rapid loss of midbrain dopaminergic neurons. The first attempt for using human ESC cells to treat PD was via the generation of dopaminergic-like neurons, later human iPSCs was proposed as an alternative to overcome ESCs controversies (27). Both cells presented hope for obtaining an endless source of dopaminergic neurons instead of the previously used fetal brain tissues. Subsequently, protocols that mimicked the development of dopaminergic neurons succeeded in generating dopaminergic neurons similar to that of the midbrain which were able to survive, integrate and functionally mature in animal models of PD preclinically (28). Based on the research presented by different groups; the “Parkinson’s Global Force” was formed which aimed at guiding researchers to optimize their cell characterization and help promote the clinical progress toward successful therapy. Recently, In August 2018, Shinya Yamanka initiated the first approved clinical trial to treat PD using iPSCs. Seven patients suffering from moderate PD were recruited (29). Donor matched allogeneic cells were used to avoid any genetic influence of the disease. The strategy behind the trial involved the generation of dopaminergic progenitors followed by surgical transplantation into the brains of patients by a special device. In addition, immunosuppressant medications were given to avoid any adverse reaction. Preliminary results so far revealed the safety of the treatment.
Why is translational research important?
The importance of translational research lies in it’s a role as a filter to ensure that only safe and effective therapies reach the clinic (23). It bridges the gap from bench to bed. Currently, some stem cell-based therapies utilizing adult stem cells are clinically available and mainly include bone marrow transplants of hematopoietic stem cells and skin grafts for severe burns (23). To date, there are more than 3,000 trials involving the use of adult stem cells registered in WHO International Clinical Trials Registry. Additionally, initial trials involving the new and appealing iPSCs based therapies are also registered. In fact, the first clinical attempt employing iPSCs reported successful results in treating macular degeneration (24). Given the relative immaturity in the field of cellular therapy, the outcomes of such trials shall facilitate the understanding of the timeframes needed to achieve successful therapies and help in better understanding of the diseases. However, it is noteworthy that evaluation of stem cell-based therapies is not an easy task since transplantation of cells is ectopic and may result in tumor formation and other complications. This accounts for the variations in the results reported from previous reports. The following section discusses the published data of some of the most important clinical trials involving the use of different types of stem cells both in medicine and in dentistry.
What is SS in medical terms?
Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) is a systemic autoimmune disease marked by dry mouth and eyes. A novel therapeutic approach for SS. utilizing the infusion of MSCs in 24 patients was reported by Xu et al.in 2012 (55). The strategy behind this treatment was based on the immunologic regulatory functions of MSCs. Infused MSCs migrated toward the inflammatory sites in a stromal cell-derived factor-1-dependent manner. Results reported from this clinical trial demonstrated suppressed autoimmunity with subsequent restoration of salivary gland secretion in SS patients.
What is an open access statement?
Open Access Statement:This is an Open Access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0), which permits the non-commercial replication and distribution of the article with the strict proviso that no changes or edits are made and the original work is properly cited (including links to both the formal publication through the relevant DOI and the license). See: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/.
Introduction
Medical uses
- Currently, blood stem cells are the only type regularly used for treatment. In cases of leukemia or lymphoma, this type of cell is used in a procedure we commonly refer to as a bone marrow transplant. For this purpose, only adult stems cells are used.
Causes
- When it comes to stem cell research, the cells may come from any number of different sources, including adult donors, embryos, or genetically altered human cells.
Function
- The cells of the bone marrow produce all of your healthy blood cells, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Hematopoietic stem cells are those found in bone marrow that serves as the \"parent\" for all of these different types of cells.
Treatment
- To remedy this, donated stem cells are injected into a vein and eventually settle in the bone marrow where they start producing healthy, new blood cells.
Discovery
- Years ago, the only source for hematopoietic stem cells were those taken from bone marrow. It was soon after discovered that many of these cells were circulating freely in the bloodstream. In time, scientists learned how to harvest these cells from circulating blood and to transplant them directly into a donor.
Uses
- Embryonic stem cells are controversial since they are derived from human embryos that have either been destroyed or harvested for science. Embryonic stem cells were first grown in a laboratory in 1998 for reproductive purposes. Today, they are used primarily for research into treatments or cures for cancers, blindness, juvenile diabetes, Parkinsons, spinal cord injuries, an…
Overview
- Induced pluripotent stem cells, or iPSCs, are somatic stem cells that have been genetically reprogrammed to be more like embryonic stem cells. iPSCs usually start out as skin or blood cells which then undergo genetic programming.
Advantages
- iPSCs were first developed in 2006 and pose one major advantage over somatic and embryonic stem cells: they can be made in a patient-matched manner. What this means is that a lab can tailor-make a pluripotent stem cell line individualized from a persons own cells or tissues.